Thoughts on Popular Culture and Unpopular Culture by Jaime J. Weinman (email me)

Monday, August 15, 2005

Sidney Satan Sheldon

Geez -- "Hart to Hart: The Complete First Season?" At the time, it was an antidote to a glut of "gritty" shows and movies, and I like Robert Wagner for his self-deprecating humor (he could have used a livelier partner than Stefanie Powers, though). But like every show created by the Dark Lord Sidney Sheldon, it was basically a knockoff: "The Patty Duke Show" = "The Parent Trap"; "I Dream of Jeannie" = "Bewitched," and "Hart To Hart" was "The Thin Man" for a slightly less boozy era. Interestingly, two shows that were created to ape the success of "Hart to Hart" turned out better than the original: "Remington Steele" and "Moonlighting."